Rail-joint.



No. 737,552. PATENTBD AUG. 25, 1903. W. PJBOWERS.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1902.

80 MODEL.

UN TED STATES Patented August 25, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. BOWERS, OF ESPLEN BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-FOURTH TO EDWARD J. HAMPTON, OF BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,552 dated August25, 1903.

Application filed November 5,1902. Serial No. 130,133. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. BoWERs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Esplen borough, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railjoint-s, the object of the invention being to provide a joint.

by means of which the rails may be securely held without the aid ofbolts and nuts, as now ordinarily employed, and also to provide a jointwhich will permit the removal of the rails without requiring the removalof the joint from the cross-ties.

Briefly described, my invention comprises a rail-chair which consists ofa base or saddle plate having an integral fish-plate and provided withan extension on which is slidably mounted a fish-plate to embrace theopposite side of the rail, means being provided for securing theslidable fish-plate in position, said means being of such a nature as topermit the ready disengagement thereof to permit the sliding fish-platebeing moved away from the rails in order that the latter may be removedwhen desired.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, whereinlike numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, in which-- Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved rail-joint,showing the rail in position therein, the latter being in cross-section.Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View with the slidable fish-plate andfastening therefor removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the joint, showingall partsin position. Fig. 4 is a plan elevation of the securing-wedgefor the slidable fishplate. Fig. 5 is a like view of the locking-key forsame.

To put my invention into practice,I pro vide a base or saddle plate 1,which is adapted to be securely spiked to the cross-ties. (Not shown.)This saddle-plate has formed integral therewith a fish-plate 2, which isadapted to embrace one side of the rails, and

the saddle-plate also has a table or bed plate 3, upon which the basesof therails 4 are adapted to rest. This bed or table plate 3 carries anintegral extension or tongue 5, the

other or free end of which is flush with the one end of the saddle-plate1, and this extension and also the saddle-plate 1 are provided withopenings 6 7 in alinement with each other to receive the securing-wedge8, which holds the slidable fish-plate 9 in position. This slidablefish-plate is mounted on the extension or tongue 5, being slotted toreceive said tongue or extension, and has a tongue 10, which engages inthe space or groove 11, provided therefor between the bed or table plate3 and the base or saddle plate 1. The securing-' wedge 8 is providedwith a notch 12 and also has a plurality of openings or recesses 14,

arranged at different heights on the face of the plate and adapted toreceive the wedgeshaped end 15 of the locking-key 16, by means of whichthe securing-wedge 8 is held in position.

The rail-chair is adapted to be spiked rigidly to the cross-tie, and tothis end is provided adjacent each of its ends with openings 17'toreceive securingspikes. When the rail-chair has been placed in positionon the tie and spiked thereon, the rails i are So wedge 8 is then placedin position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The yoke 18is then placed overthe end of the tongue or extension 5, this yoke having a bed-plate 10,provided with openings which register with the openings 17 in one end ofthe base-plate 1, whereby the same securing-spikes may be employed forsecuring the yoke in position. The yoke is provided with a partition 20,which forms two spaces 21, in which the locking-key 16 is held,

this key being placed in either of the recesses,

according to which opening 14 may be in position to be engaged by theend of the key. The joint is also fastened down at this end by means ofa clamp 22, which engages on top of the yoke 18 and has a spiked end 23oo to engage in the cross-tie.

To remove the rails from the joint, a pinchbar may be engaged with theshoulder 24 of the locking-key 16 and this key forced out of engagementwith the wedge 8, and the'pinchbar may then be engaged by the notch 12of the wedge 8 and the latter drawn out of the openings 6 7, whereby thefish-plate 9 may be slid back in order to give suflicient clearance toremove the rails and place new railsin position, after which thefish-plate 9 may be slid up into position again and securely fastened.

When it is desired to renew the cross-tie, it will of course benecessary that the spikes be withdrawn, andat this time the clamp 22 maybe readily withdrawn by engaging the pinchbar under the shoulders 25 ofsaid clamp.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rail-joint comprising a base or saddle plate, a fish-plate formedintegral therewith, a bed or table plate carried by the base or saddleplate, a tongue or extension carried by the table or bed plate andprovided with an opening, a slidable fish-plate mounted on saidextension, a securing-key engaging in the opening of the tongue orextension, a yoke mounted on the outer end of said tongue or extensionand adapted to be secured to the base or saddle plate, a locking-keymounted in said yoke and engaging the securing-wedge and the clampengaging said yoke and having a spiked end to engage the cross-tie,substantially as described.

ing an opening therein, an integral fish-plate carried thereby, a tongueformed integral with the base-plate provided with an opening therein inalinement with the opening in said base-plate, a fish-plate slidablymounted on said tongue, a yoke mounted on the baseplate engaging saidtongue, at securing-wedge having recesses at difie'rent heights thereinadapted to seat in the opening of the tongue and base-plate, alocking-key for securing said wedge in the openings, and means forsecuring the base-plate to the tie, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM P. BOWERS. Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, D. E. WILSON.

